What would cause this guys..4.7 2002 ram 1500 236xxx miles oil changes regular just out the blue driving ...

You mean besides the quarter million miles on it and a hidden casting defect finally showed thru?

Bravo on getting that kind of mileage out of that engine. I'm a fan of them, but many here are not...

The rocker just sits there unsecured by anything but hydraulic pressure in the lifter, if the lifter bleeds down they fall off, the lobe hits em and can break all kinds of thing or not harm a thing. Once one falls off the rest are liely to do the same and just replacing them is not enough it just starts sno-balling from there.

So basically I have to replace the head lifters to fix..smh I was planning on trading this thing in the next few weeks for a 3500 ..just my luck..thanks guys

Yeah gonna need a new head, I probably have one as I have bunches of blown up 4.7s around the shop, you could bolt one on and hurry down and trade it in on your test drive. I try to warn people about this but no body trusts me... glad you got that many miles as it is kinda un usual.

Ok guys I think I'm going to put heads new gaskets and bolts on this thing..with 24xxxx miles should I just be looking to get rid of it or with the new top end I should be ok..was going to buy a diesel but think I'm going to wait and look into a small rv..

Is there anything else I should address while in here doing the top end

New lifters if you think there is any chance you might keep it. Timing chain tensioners, guides, maybe an oil pump. I can not find any good 4.7 heads in my stash so I am scrapping them all. I do have one complete engine coming out with blown head gaskets and bottem end is out, when I get the new engine swapped in I will pull the heads and see if they look useable but not gonna be in the next few days.

Yes lifters will be new..sounds like I might just be better to get another truck..